Ejector control mechanisms for straw dispensers



June 25, 1963 A. wn s 3,095,118

EJECTOR CQNTROL MECHANISMS FOR STRAW DISPENSERS Filed 0017. 19 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 150M420 A. h ILLS June 25, 1963 A. w||. .1 s 3,095,118

EJECTOR CONTROL MECHANISMS FOR STRAW DISPENSERS Filed Oct. 19, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 150N442. A. Mus

3,095,118 EJECTOR CONTRDL li/ECHANISMS FOR STRAW DISPENSERS Leonard A. Wills, 1Z0. Box 7354, Benjamin Franklin Station, Washington 4, D.C. Filed Oct. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 63,669 17 Claims. (ill. 221152) This invention relates to sipping straw dispensers, and more particularly to mechanisms for regulating the delivery of straws from straw dispensers.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved ejector control mechanism for regulating the delivery of straws from a straw dispenser, said mechanism being simple in construction, being compact in size, and acting to automatically insure that only a specified number of straws, namely, one or more, will be delivered for each ejection stroke of the straw ejector of a straw dispenser.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved ejection regulator for a straw dispenser, said regulator being inexpensive to fabricate, being durable in construction, and preventing the delivery of excess straws from a straw dispenser, whereby waste of straws is minimized.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved ejection regulator for a straw dispenser, said regulator controlling the delivery of straws in a positive manner so that the required straws are elevated for removal in an accurate and reliable sequence without damage thereto as the ejector is operated, and being provided with means for preventing further operation of the ejector until previously elevated straws are removed from the dispenser.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through a straw dispenser provided with an improved ejector control mechanism according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken through the upper portion of the straw dispenser of FIGURE 1 with the ejector member thereof partly elevated at the beginning of its operating stroke.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional View similar to FIGURE 2, but showing the ejector member locked in an elevated position with a first straw in ejection position, preparatory to the ejection of a second straw subsequent to the removal of said first straw.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective View of the pivoted ejector-locking member employed in the straw ejection regulating mechanism of FIGURES 1 to 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view, similar to FIGURE 3 but showing a modification of the straw ejection regulating mechanism of the present invention adapted to permit the simultaneous ejection of two straws.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of the mechanism of FIGURE 6 but showing the ejector locked to prevent further upward movement thereof due to the presence of a third straw on the ejector.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view showing a further modification of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 to 5, 11 generally designates a straw dis- Patented June 25, 1953 penser of the type provided with a vertically movable straw ejecting rod 12, for example, of the general type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,828,887 to Leonard A. Wills.

The straw dispenser 11 comprises a suitable container 13, which may be a transparent glass vessel, on which is detachably mounted a generally conical top cover 14 provided with a straw dispensing opening 15 at its apex. Disposed in the lower portion of the container 13' is a cup member 16 which is provided with the downwardly tapering generally conical straw-supporting wall 17 which has its apex portion located relatively closely adjacent one side of the cup member so that straws 18 positioned in the container 13 will assume inclined positions similar to those illustrated in FIGURE 1, wherein the bottom ends of the straws tend to gravitate downwardly toward the offset apex of the conical wall 17. The conical wall 17 is integrally secured at its top periphery to a generally cylindrical skirt member 68 which fits loosely in the bottom of the container '13, and which may be provided with spaced depending supporting springs 12 engaging the bottom wall 20 of the container and thus resiliently supporting the cup assembly 16.

The apex of conical wall member 17 is formed with a slot 21 and with an ejector guide post 22 rising vertically from the skirt member 68 adjacent said slot and provided at its top end with a sleeve portion 23 having a square bore slidably receiving the squared straw ejector rod 12. The ejector rod 12 is provided with the lower end portion 24 of reduced thickness which is slidably receivable in the slot 21, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The reduced lower end portion 24 is formed with the vertically spaced upwardly directed pron-g elements 25- :and 26 successively engageable in the bottom ends of straws 18 as the ejector rod is elevated, for example, as shown in FIGURE 3, so that the engaged straws will be elevated toward the discharge opening 15 in top cover 14 as the rod 12 is lifted.

- Rod 12 is provided at its top end with a knob 27 to facilitate grasping same.

Designated at 28 is a lever member which is pivoted at 29 to a bracket member secured on cap 14 between the aperture 15 and the ejector rod 12. Lever member 28 is provided at one end with a generally circular cover plate 31 which normally overlies and covers the aperture 15, as shown in FIGURE 1. At its opposite end, lever member 28 is formed with an upstanding flange 32.

Designated at 33 is a locking member which is pivoted at 34 to a bracket 35 secured to top cover 14 between rod 12 and bracket 30, the pivotal axis of member 33 being substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of lever 28.

Locking member 33 comprises an upstanding hook-like main body 36 formed with a laterally projecting arm 37 at its base, said arm being formed at its end with a hori-;

zontally extending lug 38 projecting substantially at right angles to the arm and parallel to main body 36, defining a rectangular notch 39 loosely receiving the ejector rod 12, as shown in FIGURE 5.

The main body 36 of locldng member 33 is formed with the top locking lug 4b which is lockingly receivable in either a first detent notch 41 formed in rod 12 subjacent the knob 27, or in a second detent notch 42 formed in the rod 12 at a location such that the notch 42 will be positioned adjacent the lug when a first straw 18 has been lifted through the aperture 15-, with the top end of a second straw, supported on lower prong 26, subjacent aperture 15, as shown in FIGURE 3.

Rigidly secured to the rear edge of member 36, as viewed in FIGURE 4, is an upstanding rod-like arm- 43 formed with the laterally inclined forwardly extending finger 44 which is normally received inwardly of the upwardly facing channel defined between flange 32 and the l 1 l I main body of lever member 28, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the flange 32 engaging finger 44 to hold the member 33 against clockwise rotation, as viewed in FIG- URES 1 and 2, until a straw 18 has been elevated through the aperture 15. When a straw .18 is lifted through said aperture, as shown in FIGURE '3, the straw elevates the cover plate 31, causing lever 28 to. rotate clockwise, whereby flange 32 disengages sufiicienctly from finger 44 to allow member 33 to rotate clockwise by gravity to the locking posi ion thereof shown in FIGURE 3, whereby to prevent further elevation of ejector rod 12 until the straw is removed from the discharge aperture 15.

If the ejector rod 12 is released with the first straw 18 still retained in the aperture 15 by the cover plate 31, the rod 12 drops to its normal position, and the detent lug 40 enters the upper notch 41, preventing subsequent elevation of the ejector rod until the first straw has been removed.

When the first straw 13 has been removed from the aperture 15, cover plate 31 is free to drop, and therefore lever member 28 rotates counterclockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 3, causing flange 32 to engage finger 44, which in turn rotates locking member 33 counterclockwise sufficiently to release ejector rod 12. The ejector rod may then be elevated to lift a second straw 18 through the discharge opening 15.

It will thus be seen that the mechanism above described provides for delivery of one straw responsive to each upward stroke of the ejector rod 12, and that the mechanism will lock the ejector rod to prevent an upward operating stroke thereof as long as a straw is held in the discharge aperture 15. The cover plate 31 serves both as a straw retaining means and as a protective cover for the dispensing aperture 15.

The device of FIGURES 1 to is particularly suited for dispensing straws of the Jumbo size, wherein ordinarily the user requires only a single straw. FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 illustrate a modified form of the invention applicable to dispensers of normal-sized straws, namely, straws of such a size that the user might require two straws. V

In the modified form of the invention of FIGURES 6, 7 and '8, the cap 14 is provided with a generally frustoconical annular auxiliary cover element 50 which is rigidly secured to one end of a lever member 51 pivoted at 52 to a bracket 53- secured on cap 14 between the aperture and the bracket member 35 associated with locking member 33. The lever member 51 is provided at its remaining end with the upstanding flange 54 which is cooperable with the finger member 44- of locking member 33 in the same manner as in the previously described form of the invention. The discharge opening 55 of auxiliary cover element 50 is only larger enough to allow two straws 18 to pass therethrough. V

The ejector rod, shown at 12, is provided at its re duced lower end portion 24' with a bottom prong 55' and with a pair of additional prongs 56, 57 spaced above said bottom prong, the prongs 56, 57 and 55' being engageable in the bottom ends of straws 18' as the prongs pass upwardly through the slot 21, as in the previously described form of the invention, whereby to elevate the straws as the ejector rod 12' is lifted. If two straws are elevated simultaneously, they will pass through the discharge aperture 55 and will be retained in elevated positions by a cover plate '58 pivoted at 59 to the lever member 51, as shown in FIGURE 6. If three straws 18' are elevated, the lowermost straw will engage the member 50, as shown in FIGURE 7, and will elevate same, causing the lever member 51 to rotate clockwise, as viewed in FIGURES 6 and 7, allowing the locking member 33 to rotate clockwise by gravity, whereby the locking lug 40 will engage in a detent notch .60 formed in the adjacent portion of the ejector rod 12, as shown in FIGURE 7, and preventing the ejector rod from being further ele- 4 vated. This prevents the lowermost straw from being delivered.

The ejector rod may be lowered, and may be again operated to deliver two more straws after the first two delivered straws are removed.

It will be noted that each operating stroke of the ejec- The cover plate 58 serves both as a straw retaining 7 means and as a protective cover for the central aperture 55 of masking ring 50.

As shown in FIGURE '6, a second notch 79 is provided in the rod 12' spaced above the first notch 60. Notch 79 is used for locking the rod 12 at aposition corresponding to the position of the top end of astraw elevated by an upper prong 56 or 57 and engaging the ring 50 when two prior straws are still retained in the ring by cover plate 58.

As an alternative to the arrangements disclosed in FIG- URES 1 to 8, the regulating member and locking member may be supported on the vertical guide sleeve instead of on the top cover. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 9, the vertical guide sleeve, shown at 23, may extend a short distance above the top cover 14 and a pivot bracket may be secured thereto. A locking member 33' is pivoted at 91 to bracket 90 in a position to lockingly engage in a notch 92 in the ejector rod. Also pivoted to the bracket 90 at 9.1 is the regulator lever 93, carrying the cover disc 94 at its outer end, said cover disc normally overlying the dispensing aperture 95. The inner end of the regulator lever 93 comprises a lug 96 which is shaped to extend beneath the lower arm $7 of locking member 3-3 and normally supports the locking member in unlocking position. When the cover disc 94 is elevated, the lever 93 rotates clockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 9, lowering lug 96 and allowing .the locking member 33' to rotate clockwise towards locking position.

In the various forms of the invention above described, the top portion of the sleeve member .23 is free to vibrate with respect to the top cover 14, so that shaking or oscillation of the guide sleeve, the cup assembly and the ejec tor rod relative to the receptacle 13 and top cover 14 is permitted; such shaking or oscillation may be produced by the impact of the bottom end of an abutment lug 80, provided on the top portion of the ejector rod 12 or 12', with the top rim of the guide sleeve 23 or 23' when the ejector rod is allowed to drop. The vibration .thus produced greatly facilitates the gravitational movement of I the straws in the container toward dispensing positions.

While certain specific embodiments of straw ejection mechanisms have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except :as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: a I

1. In a sipping straw dispenser, a receptacle adapted to support a plurality of straws in upright positions, said receptacle having an inclined bottom wall element on which the bottom ends of the straws tend to gravitate downwardly, an upwardly tapering top cover on the receptacle formed with a discharge opening at its apex, a vertical ejec-.

to engage in the bottom ends of straws when the ejector.

rod is elevated and to lift the straws toward said discharge opening, a regulating member pivoted to said top cover and being rotatable upwardly by the top end of a straw passing through the discharge opening at said apex, a locking member pivoted to said top cover adjacent said ejector rod and being biased towards locking engagement with said ejector rod, and means on the regulating member engageable with the locking member to hold the locking member away from the ejector rod unless said regulating member is in an upwardly rotated position.

2. In a sipping straw dispenser, a receptacle adapted to support a plurality of straws in upright positions, said receptacle having an inclined bottom wall element formed with a slot at its lower portion towards which the bottom ends of the straws tend to gravitate, an upwardly tapering top cover on the receptacle formed with a discharge opening at its apex, a vertical ejector rod slidably mounted in the receptacle and extending through said slot and said top cover, vertically spaced prong elements on the lower end portion of said ejector rod located to engage in the bottom ends of straws at said slot when the ejector rod is elevated and to lift the straws toward said discharge opening, a regulating member pivoted to said top cover and being rotatable upwardly by the top end of a straw passing through the discharge opening at said apex, a locking member pivoted to said top cover adjacent said ejector rod and being biased towards locking engagement with said ejector rod, and an upstanding flange element on the regulating member engageable with the locking member to hold the locking member away from the ejector rod unless said regulating member is in an upwardly rotated position.

3. In a sipping straw dispenser, a receptacle adapted to support a plurality of straws in upright positions, said receptacle having an inclined bottom wall element formed with a slot at its lower portion towards which the bottom ends of the straws tend to gravitate, an upwardly tapering top cover on the receptacle formed with a discharge opening at its apex, a vertical ejector rod slidably mounted in the receptacle and extending through said slot and said top cover, vertically spaced prong elements on the lower end portion of said ejector rod located to engage in the bottom ends of straws at said slot when the ejector rod is elevated and to lift the straws toward said discharge opening, a regulating member pivoted to said top cover and being rotatable upwardly by the top end of a straw passing through the discharge opening at said apex, a locking member pivoted to said top cover adjacent said ejector rod and being biased toward locking engagement with said ejector rod, :a finger element on the locking member extending adjacent said regulating member, and upstanding means on the regulating member engageable with said finger element to hold the locking member away from the ejector rod unless said regulating member is in an upwardly rotated position.

4. In a sipping straw dispenser, a receptacle adapted to support a plurality of straws in upright positions, said receptacle having an inclined bottom wall element formed with a slot at its lower portion towards which the bottom ends of the straws tend to gravitate, an upwardly tapering top cover on the receptacle formed with a discharge opening at its apex, a vertical ejector rod slidably mounted in the receptacle and extending through said slot and said top cover, vertically spaced prong elements on the lower end portion of said ejector rod located to engage in the bottom ends of straws at said slot when the ejector rod is elevated and to lift the straws toward said discharge opening, a regulating member pivoted to said top cover and being rotatable upwardly by the top end of a straw passing through the discharge opening at said apex, a locking member pivoted to said top cover adjacent said ejector rod and being biased toward locking engagement with said ejector rod, a substantially transversely extending finger element on the locking member extending adjacent said regulating member, and an upstanding flange element on the regulating mem ber engageable with said finger element to hold the locking member away from the ejector rod unless said regulating member is in an upwardly rotated position.

5 In a sipping straw dispenser, a receptacle adapted to support a plurality of straws in upright positions, said receptacle having an inclined bottom wall element on which the bottom ends of the straws tend to gravitate downwardly, an upwardly tapering top cover on the receptacle formed with a discharge opening at its apex, a vertical ejector rod slidably mounted in the receptacle adjacent to and extending through the lowermost portion of said bottom wall element and extending through said top cover, vertically spaced prong elements on the ejector rod located to engage in the bottom ends of straws when the ejector rod is elevated and to lift the straws toward said discharge opening, said ejector rod being formed with a detent notch located so as to be elevated above the top cover simultaneously with the elevation of a straw through said discharge opening, a regulating member pivoted to said top cover and being rotatable upwardly by the top end of a straw passing through the discharge opening at said apex, a locking member pivoted to said top cover adjacent said ejector rod and being biased towards locking engagement in said detent notch, and means on the regulating member engageable with the locking member to hold the locking member away from the ejector rod unless said regulating member is in an upwardly rotated position.

6. In a sipping straw dispenser, a receptacle adapted to support a plurality of straws in upright positions, said receptacle having an inclined bottom wall element formed with a slot at its lower portion towards which the bottom ends of the straws tend to gravitate, an upwardly tapering top cover on the receptacle formed with a discharge opening at its apex, a vertical ejector rod slidably mounted in the receptacle and extending through said slot and said top cover, vertically spaced prong ele ments on the lower end portion of said ejector rod located to engage in the bottom ends of straws at said slot when the ejector rod is elevated and to lift the straws toward said discharge opening, said ejector rod being formed with a detent notch located so as to be elevated above the top cover simultaneously with the elevation of a straw through said discharge opening, a regulating member pivoted to said top cover and being rotatable upwardly by the top end of a straw passing through the discharge opening at said apex, a locking member pivoted to said top cover adjacent said ejector rod and being biased toward locking engagement in said detent notch, a substantially transversely extending finger element on the locking member extending adjacent said regulating member, and an upstanding flange element on the regulating member engageable with said ringer element to hold the locking member away from the ejector rod unless the regulating member is in an upwardly rotated position.

7. In a sipping straw dispenser, a straw storage receptacle having an apertured top cover and a vertically movable ejector rod constructed and arranged to elevate straws through the aperture in said top cover, a regulating member pivoted to said top cover adjacent said aperture and being rotatable upwardly by a straw being elevated by said ejector rod, a locking member movably mounted adjacent said ejector rod and being biased towards locking engagement therewith, and means on the regulating member restraining the locking member from "engaging the ejector rod unless said regulating member is in an upwardly rotated position.

8. A straw dispensing mechanism adapted to be employed with a straw storage receptacle, comprising an apertured top cover, a vertically movable ejector rod extending through said top cover, means to elevate straws through the aperture in said top cover responsive to elevation of the rod, a regulating member pivoted to said top cover adjacent the aperture and being rotatable upwardly by a straw being elevated by said ejector rod,

a locking member movably mounted adjacent said ejector rod and being biased toward locking engagement therewith, and means on theregulating member restraining the locking member from engaging the ejector rod unless said regulating member is in an upwardly rotated position.

9. A straw dispensing mechanism adapted to be employed with a straw storage receptacle, comprising an apertured top cover, a vertically movable ejector rod.

extending through said top cover, means to elevate straws through the aperture in said top cover responsive to elevation of the rod, a regulating member pivoted to said top cover adjacent the aperture and being rotatable upwardly by a straw being elevated by said ejector rod, and means controlled by the regulating member to locrc the ejector rod against upward movement beyond a predetermined position when the regulating member is in an upwardly rotated position.

10. A straw dispensing mechanism adapted to be employed with a straw storage receptacle, comprising an apertured top cover, a vertically movable ejector rod extending through said top cover, means to elevate straws through the aperture in said top cover responsive to elevation of the rod, a regulating member pivoted to said top cover adjacent the aperture and being rotatable upwardly by a straw being elevated by said ejector rod, a locking member pivoted to the'top cover adjacent the ejector rod and being biased toward locking engagement with said rod to limit upward movement of the rod beyond a predetermined position, and means to restrain the locking member from engaging the ejector rod unless said regulating member is in an upwardly rotated position.

11. A straw dispensing mechanism adapted to be employed with a straw storage receptacle, comprising an apertured top cover, a vertically movable ejector rod extending through said top cover, means to elevate straws through the aperture in said top cover responsive to elevation of the rod, a regulating member pivoted to said top cover and being rotatable upwardly by a straw being elevated by said ejector rod, and means controlled by the regulating member to limit upward movement of said ejector rod when the regulating member is in an upwardly rotated position.

1-2. A straw dispensing mechanism adapted to be employed with a straw storage receptacle comprising an apertured top cover, a vertically movable ejector extending through said top cover, means to elevate straws through the aperture in said top cover responsive to elevation of the ejector, a regulating member pivotally mounted adjacent the aperture and being rotatable upwardly by a straw being elevated by said ejector, and means controlled by the regulating member to lock the ejector against upward movement beyond a predetermined position when the regulating member is in an upwardly rotated position.

13. A straw dispensing mechanism adapted to be employed with a straw storage receptacle comprising an apertured top cover, a vertically movable ejector extending through said top cover, means to elevatestraws through the aperture in said top cover responsive to elevation of the ejector, a regulating member pivotally mounted adja cent the aperture and being rotatable upwardly by a straw being elevated by said ejector, and means controlled by the regulating member to limit upward movement of said ejector when the regulating member is in an upwardly rotated position.

14. A sipping straw dispenser comprising a straw storage receptacle having a top with a straw discharge opening, a straw dispensing mechanism with a straw ejector having means to engage straws and push said engaged straws into the discharge opening in said top responsive to operation of said ejector, a regulating member movable to different positions and mounted so that a straw being carried by said ejector can cause a change in the position of said regulating member, and means controlled by the regulating member and adapted to limit movement of said ejector beyond a predetermined position after the position of said regulating member is so changed.

15. A straw dispensing mechanism adapted to be employed with a straw storage receptacle, comprising a receptacle top having a straw discharge opening, a straw ejector with means to engage straws and push said'engaged straws into the discharge opening in said top responsive to operation of said ejector, a regulating member'movable to difvferent positions and mounted so that a straw being carried by said ejector can cause a change in the position of said regulating member, and means controlled by the regulating member and adapted to limit movement of said ejector beyond a predetermined position after the position of said regulating member is so changed. a

16. A sipping straw dispenser comprising a straw storage receptacle having a top with a straw discharge opening, a straw dispensing mechanism with a straw ejector having means to engage straws and push said engaged straws into the discharge opening in said top responsive to operation of said ejector, a regulating member movable to different positions and mounted so that a delivered straw in said discharge opening causes said regulating member to be in a changed position, and means controlled by the regulating member to limit movement of said ejector when the position of said regulating member is so changed.

17. A straw dispensing mechanism adapted to be employed with a straw storage receptacle, comprising a receptacle top having a straw discharge opening, a straw ejector with means to engage straws and push said engaged straws into the discharge opening in said top responsive to operation of said ejector,'a regulating member movable to different positions and mounted so that a delivered straw in said discharge opening causes said regulating member to be in a changed position, and means controlled by the regulating member to limit movement of said ejector when the position of said regulating member is so changed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,211,139 Griel Jan. 2, 1917 

1. IN A SIPPING STRAW DISPENSER, A RECEPTACLE ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A PLURALITY OF STRAWS IN UPRIGHT POSITIONS, SAID RECEPTACLE HAVING AN INCLINED BOTTOM WALL ELEMENT ON WHICH THE BOTTOM ENDS OF THE STRAWS TEND TO GRAVITATE DOWNWARDLY, AN UPWARDLY TAPERING TOP COVER ON THE RECEPTACLE FORMED WITH A DISCHARGE OPENING AT ITS APEX, A VERTICAL EJECTOR ROD SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE RECEPTACLE ADJACENT TO AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE LOWERMOST PORTION OF SAID BOTTOM WALL ELEMENT AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID TOP COVER, VERTICALLY SPACED PRONG ELEMENTS ON THE EJECTOR ROD LOCATED TO ENGAGE IN THE BOTTOM ENDS OF STRAWS WHEN THE EJECTOR ROD IS ELEVATED AND TO LIFT THE STRAWS TOWARD SAID DISCHARGE OPENING, A REGULATING MEMBER PIVOTED TO SAID TOP COVER AND BEING ROTATABLE UPWARDLY BY THE TOP END OF A STRAW PASSING THROUGH THE DISCHARGE OPENING AT SAID APEX, A LOCKING MEMBER PIVOTED TO SAID TOP COVER ADJACENT SAID EJECTOR ROD AND BEING BIASED TOWARDS LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH 